Watch-protecting device



J. HONIG V WATCH PROTECTING DEYIQE Oct. 20, 1925.

Filed Aug. 15. 1924 INV ENTOR Joseph Jfonty BY ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 20, 1925.

1,55 5 PAELE-i-NIJJ I JOSEPHf-HQN'IG, or new YORKN. Y.

WATCH-PROTECTING DEVICE.

Application filed August- 15, 1924'. SerialNo. 7325258.

1' '0 all 101 4 07121 it may cancer n4 Be it known that LJOSEII-PIlONIG, citlzen of I'Iungary residing at New Yorkcitv. in

the county of New York and State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in WVatch-Protecting Devices; of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a watch protecting device which is'ada-pted to form a link inserted between the chain and the watch ring to prevent the watch being withdrawn from the pocket when the chain 'is pulled by a pickpocket, thereby ensuring against loss of the watch by theft while being worn The invention hasfor an object the-prcvision of a novel and SlH'IPlB-LlGVlCG ofthe type above set forth.

Forfurther comprehensionof the inven tion, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference-will beghad to the fol lowing description and accompanying drawing, and to theappended claiins inwhich the various novel features of the invention.

are more particularly set forth.

Fig. 1 of-the drawing is a side view show ing my improved device as applied between a watch and its chain.

Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal view of the device.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the device this view being taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2-.

Fig. at is a part side View and part longitudinal sectional view.

Fig; 5 is a fragmentary central longitudinal sectional view taken at right angles to Fig. 1.

As here embodied my improved device comprises a cup shaped casing which is formed at one end with an integral bottom or closure. At its other end this casing has [ixed thereon a cap 11 provided with a depending flange 12 that overlaps the edge of the casing and may be crimped thereon, or may be screwed to the casing as indicated in Fig. 4 of the drawing. This cap is formed with a central aperture 14 through which extends a plunger pin 15 that has a ring 16 on its outer end, this ring being adapted to have the watch chain 17 attached thereto. A second ring 18 is attached to the casing 10 at its integrally closed end and may be engaged with the usual ring 19 on the watch 20.

The plunger pin 15 has pivotally attached to its inner end a series of prongs 23;. these.

prongsbeing pivotallyattached to the pinv at one end and extending at. opposite ends into apertures 24 7111 the cap 11. There are three of these prongs here shown, suitably spaced around the pin lo although the. number might be varied if desired. Asa convenient method of :hinging or pivoting the prongs 9,8 to the pin 15 the ilatter: is formed with a numberof grooves suchias 25 in the inner end thereof whiclireceive. the bowed inner endslZS of the prongs. 23,-, these inner end elements 23 being 'pre vented from displacement from. the grooves by a ring 26,. thatencircles-the pin lo. The pin 15 has a radiallfla-nge: 2'? on itswin-n ner end that prevents longitudinal.displacw ment of the ring. Surroundingthe pin-15, within the casing 10, is a vcoiled'ezqoansion spring that bears at one-end onitl'ie cap,

11 and at-itsother end against;the-inner: 7 end portions of theprongs 23. This spring.

30 serves to retainthe pin 15 inaits inwardly projected position, with the tips of the prongs 28 just engaged in the apertures 5% in the cap. v11.. These .apertnresfi i in the cap are spaced radially some distance from the pin 15 so that normally the prongs diverge from the pin, and as will be obvious, when the pin is pulled outward in the casing the prongs are both projected from the cap 11 in a longitudinaldirection but are caused to diverge at a greater angle from the pin so that their points spread beyond the confines of the casing and enter into the walls of the pocket in which the watch is carried. It is believed that the manner of use of my improved device will be readily understood from the above description it being apparent that if the chain 17 is pulled in the endeavor to remove the watch from the pocket the pin 15 will be moved outward in the casing 10 and the prongs 23 caused to emerge and engage in the pocket walls. The user of the watch can remove the same by reaching into the pocket and grasping the casing.

As shown most clearly in Fig. 5 of the drawing the casing 10 has an inwardly projecting boss formed'on one side which serves to guide and support a locking bolt 36* that may. be moved to project its inner end into a circumferential groove 15* in the plunger pin 15 to lock the latter against outward movement. The bolt 36 has fixed thereto a pin 37 that engages in a helical slot 38 in the boss 35 this slot having its inward end formed with a backturned notch 38. Surrounding the bolt 36 outside the casing is a coiled expansion spring 39 that bears outwardly on the enlarged head -10 of the bolt. hen the owner of the watch is in surroundings where there is no danger of theft he can lock the pin 15 against movement by turning the bolt 36 until the pin 37 engages in the notch 38' when the inner end of the bolt will be projected into the groove 15 in the pin 15.

While I have described my protecting device to be used for watches, it is to be understood that I reserve the rights tovits use also in connection with other objects which are to be protected, such as keys, chained purses and the like.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows 1. In combination with a watch and chain, a longitudinally expansible link forming the connecting medium between the .watch and the chain, said link comprising a cylindrical casing closed at both ends, a plunger pin extending longitudinally in said casing and projecting at one end through one end of the casing, and aseries of prongs pivotally connected at one end to the inner end of said plunger pin and engaging at their opposite ends in apertures in the said end of the casing, and a displaceable locking bolt projected through the side of said casing to engage and lock said plunger pin.

2. In combination with a watch and chain, a longitudinally expansible link forming the connecting medium between the watch and the chain, said link comprising a cylindrical casing closed at both ends, a plunger pin extending longitudinally in said casing and projecting at one end through one end of the casing and formed between its ends with a circumferential groove, aseries of prongs pivot-ally connected at one end to the inner end of said plunger pin and engaging at their other ends in apertures in the said end of the casing, a spring surrounding the said plunger pin to retain the latter retracted into the casing with the points of said prongs confined within the casing, a hollow boss formed on the side of said casing, a bolt slidably and rotatably mounted in the said boss and projecting through the side wall of the casing with its inner end registering with the said groove in the plunger pin, a pin fixed to the said bolt and engaging in a helical slot in the said boss, said slot having an offset notch in one end, and a spring surrounding the bolt and acting to retain the said pin engaged in the said notch when the bolt is engaged in the said groove to retain the bolt in the said position.

In testimony whereof I have afl ixed my signature.

JOSEPH HONIG. 

